How to Buy Glo Data for Another Number
Sometimes the person who needs data is not you. A parent in the village, a student away from home, a friend whose plan has just run out. If you want to pay for their data from your own phone, you need to know what Glo allows and what it does not.
This guide explains how to buy Glo data for another number, what to do when the other person is on a different network, and how to avoid the mistakes that waste your money. Always follow the options on your own screen, because menus and plans change.
The quick steps for another Glo number
| 1 | Check that the other number is on the Glo network. |
| 2 | Open the data menu with *312# or use the Glo Café app. |
| 3 | Choose the Gift Data option. |
| 4 | Enter the other person’s number and choose a plan. |
| 5 | Confirm and wait for the message that the gift went through. |
Why gifting is the route to use
Glo does not have a separate buy for another number button. The way to pay for someone else’s data is gifting. The plan is bought with your airtime and delivered to their line. They do not need to do anything to receive it.
How to do it in the Glo Café app
Sign in to the app with your own Glo number, open the Share/Gift section, tap Gift Data, type the other number, pick a plan and confirm. It is a good option if you want to see the plan details clearly before you pay.
What if the other person is on MTN, Airtel or 9mobile?
Glo gifting works only between Glo lines. You cannot buy Glo data for a number on another network. The practical choices are these:
- Use the top-up or data purchase option in your banking app, if it offers one for that network.
- Send the person the money and let them buy a bundle themselves.
- Ask them to move to a Glo line if that makes sense for them.
Checking the number first
A single wrong digit can send your gift to a stranger or make the request fail. Ask the person to send the number as a message and copy it, instead of typing from memory. Read it back before you confirm.
Choosing a plan for them
Think about what they need. A student on a video call needs more data than someone who only sends messages. A short validity plan is fine for a quick fix. A longer plan suits someone who has no regular income for data. The list on your screen shows what you can buy, and prices can change.
| Gift data | Share data | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay with | Airtime | Your own data |
| Best when | You want to buy a new plan for them | You have leftover data |
| Your balance | Airtime goes down | Data goes down |
Problems and fixes
Check your airtime, check the number, and confirm the other person is on Glo.
Ask the person to restart the phone and check their balance. If it is still missing, contact Glo customer care with the number, the time and the amount.
Glo shows only certain plans. Choose another or buy it for yourself through the normal menu.
Staying safe
- Only buy data for people you know.
- Never pay a stranger who promises a discount for buying in bulk.
- Ignore messages that ask for your PIN or login to complete a gift.
- Keep the confirmation message until the data appears.
A simple example
Ifeanyi lives in Lagos and his mother uses a Glo line in her hometown. Her bundle finishes mid-month. Ifeanyi opens the data menu on his phone, chooses Gift Data, types his mother’s number, picks a monthly plan and confirms. He pays with his airtime, and she receives a message. He then calls her to make sure she switches on mobile data.
The whole thing takes less than two minutes, and nobody has to travel to a shop.
Questions people ask
Yes, through gifting, as long as both lines are on Glo.
Yes. They normally receive a notice that a gift has arrived.
You gift one number at a time. Repeat the steps for each person.
Summary
To buy Glo data for another number, use Gift Data from the data menu or the app, make sure both lines are on Glo, check the number twice and pay with your airtime. For other networks, use a different route.